Braking device for cloth laying machines



, 1967 E. M. MERRILL BRAKING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES March 21 Filed July 30, 1965 United States Patent 3,310,254 BRAKING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Edward M. Merrill, Sayville, N.Y., assignor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp., a corporation of New York Filed July 30, 1965, Ser. No. 476,049 4 Claims. (Cl. 24275.4)

This invention relates generally to the field of clothlaying devices of a type in which a cloth-supporting carriage traverses the surface of a horizontally disposed table to deposit successive layers of a continuous web of cloth, and more particularly to an improved device for braking the rotation of the cloth roll supported by the carriage. Devices of this general type are known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details permitting improved control of the rotation of the Web during a cloth-laying operation.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved braking device which may be manually operated from the carriage as the same executes a transverse movement over the surface of the clothlaying table.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved braking device which may be selectively employed for either a continuous braking action or a momentary manually applied braking force.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved braking device possessed of the above advantages which may be readily incorporated into existing cloth-laying machines with a minimum of modification.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved braking device for cloth-laying machines which may be simple yet durable in construction, and practically trouble-free throughout its useful life.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that owing to simplicity of design, the cost of fabrication is of a relatively low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end view as might be seen from the upper left-hand portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view corresponding to the upper portion of FIGURE 1, and showing certain of the component parts in altered relative position.

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged fragmentary end elevational view corresponding to the upper left-hand portion of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, may be incorporated into the cloth-laying carriage of a cloth-laying machine, of a type well-known in the art. Reference is made to US. Patent No. 3,112,107, granted Nov. 26-, 1963, to Emmanuel Theodosiou and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Devices of this type include a cloth-laying carriage 11 which reciprocates over a cloth-laying table (not shown), the carriage 11 being provided with an upper longitudinal member 12 upon which the device is mounted.

Patented Mar. 21, 1967 The device 10 comprises broadly: a frame element 14, a cover element 15, a bearing element 16, a bearing-shifting element 17, first and second brake shoe elements 18 and 19, brake actuating means 20 and brake locking means 21.

The frame element 14 includes a main vertical member 23, the lower end 25 of which supports a horizontally positioned shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journalled in a bearing 27, and is operated by hand knob 28. Motion is transmitted 'from a sprocket 29 through an endless chain 30 which passes about idlers 31, 32, 33 and 34 and is connected to form the above-mentioned bearingshifting element 17.

The bearing element 16 includes a plurality of horizontally disposed rods 36 which support the laterally shifta'ble bearing element 16. The element 16 includes a pair of roller or ball bearings 37 and defines a groove 38 in which the end 39 of a cloth roll-supporting shaft 40 is positioned, as is well-known in the art. As seen in FIGURE 2, the shaft 40 is provided with an angular groove 38 of width corresponding to that of the bearings 37, so that movement of the bearing element 16 either leftwardly or rightwardly as seen in FIGURE 2 will cause a corresponding axial movement of the bar 40.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the upper end 42 of the frame element 14 forms a guiding notch 41 to assist in the engagement of the shaft 40 with the bearings 37.

The cover element 15 serves to shield the chain 30 from the hands of the operator, and may be either a steel stamping or a casting. It extends from a lower end 44 to an upper end 45, thus completely shielding the elongated sections 46 of the chain 30.

The first brake shoe element 18 is best seen in FIG- URES 1 and 3 of the drawing, and includes a lower end 48 pivoted on one of the rods 36, and is maintained by a retaining screw 49. The outer surface 50 thereof engages a supporting bar 51 to prevent rotation in a clockwise direction :as seen in FIGURE 3. The inner surface 52 is provided with asbestos or other suitable frictionproducing lining 53.

The second brake shoe element 19 includes a pivotally mounted member 55 interconnected by a clevis 56 to a semicircular member 57, the inner surface 58 of which is provided with similar friction-producing brake lining material 59. The radius of the lining material 59 corresponds to the radius of the bar 40 for maximum braking effect. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the semicircular member 57 is urged to an upward position by spring means 60 at all times when a bar 40 is not positioned in engagement therewith. The spring 60 is preferably of a coil type and surrounds the stub shaft or pintle 61 which forms interconnecting means for the clevis 56.

The brake actuating means 20 includes a pivotal arm 62 engaging the member 55, both the members 55 and 62 being arranged for rotation about the axis of one of the rods 36 (see FIGURE 2). The arm 62 extends from an upper end 64 to a lower end 68 and passes through a guide 69 mounted on a handle element 70 in turn connected to the frame element 14. The lower end 68 is modified to form a finger-engaging portion 71 immediately adjacent to handle element 70.

The brake locking means 21 includes a mounting member 73 pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis 74 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). Threadedly engaged with the member 73 is a sleeve 75 having a slotted outer end 76 and an inner end 77. Disposed within a hollow bore '78 (FIGURE 5) is a pressure pintle 79, the outer end 80 of which bears against the lower end 68 of the arm 62, being urged by a spring 81 contacting a radial surface 82 thereof. The inner end of the spring 83 engages a threaded adjustment member 84 cooperating with a 3 threaded stud 85. Relative rotation between the member 84 and stud 85 varies the tension of the spring 81, a desired adjustment being maintained by a lock nut 86. The adjustment member 84 is provided with an end opening 87 through which the opposite end 88 of the pintle 79 projects.

Operation of the device is commenced by the lowering of the cloth roll-supporting bar 40 into engagement with the bearing element 16, as shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the second brake shoe element 19 will pivot from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 1 to bring substantially all of the lining area into contact with the outer surface of the bar. As the carriage 11 is manually pushed along the cloth-laying table, by grasping the handle element 70, one may conveniently manipulate the finger-engaging portion 71 to brake the bar 40 as required. Should a constant braking force be required, the means 21 is rotated from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 1, wherein a constant force is applied to the arm 62 to result in the movement of the element 19 in a direction toward the element 18. When a particular laying operation is completed, lifting of the bar 40 disengages the same from the brake shoe elements 18 and 19 without disturbing any previous adjustment, and when a similar bar 40 is engaged therewith, the shoe element 19 will rotate from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIG- URE 1 to re-exert a predetermined braking force where the means 21 was left in the position shown in FIG- URE 1.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications Will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a cloth-laying carriage supporting a cloth supply roll shaft for simultaneous rotation about an axis and translatory movement over the surface of a cloth-laying table, improved means for braking said shaft, comprising:

(a) a generally vertically disposed frame element secured in fixed relation to said carriage, and having an upper end, said upper end including bearing means for supporting one end of said shaft;

(b) a first brake shoe element mounted upon said frame element to contact one side of said supply roll shaft;

(c) a second brake shoe element of arcuate configuration corresponding to the diameter of said shaft, pivotally mounted with respect to said frame element for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and normally urged to a raised position, movement of said shaft into contact with said second brake shoe element serving to pivot said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element to wedge said shaft therebetween.

2. In a cloth-laying carriage supporting a cloth supply roll shaft for simultaneous rotation about an axis and translatory movement over the surface of a cloth-laying table, improved means for braking said shaft, comprising:

(a) a generally vertically disposed frame element secured in fixed relation to said carriage, and having an upper end, said upper end including bearing means for supporting one end of said shaft;

(b) a first brake shoe element mounted upon said frame element to contact one side of said supply roll shaft;

(c) a second brake shoe element of arcuate configuration corresponding to the diameter of said shaft, pivotally mounted With respect to said frame element for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and normally urged to a raised position, movement of said shaft into contact with said second brake shoe element serving to pivot said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element to Wedge said shaft therebetween; and

(d) means for positively urging said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element.

3. In a cloth-laying carriage supporting a cloth supply roll shaft for simultaneous rotation about an axis and translatory movement over the surface of a cloth-laying table, improved means for braking said shaft, comprising:

(a) a generally vertically disposed frame element secured in fixed relation to said carriage, and having an upper end, said upper end including bearing means for supporting one end of said shaft;

(b) a first brake shoe element mounted upon said frame element to contact one side of said supply roll shaft;

(0) a second brake shoe element of arcuate configuration corresponding to the diameter of said shaft, pivotally mounted with respect to said frame element for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and normally urged to a raised position, movement of said shaft into contact with said second brake shoe element serving to pivot said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element to wedge said shaft therebetween; and

(d) means for positively urging said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element, said means including a resilient component.

4. In a cloth-laying carriage supporting a cloth supply roll shaft for simultaneous rotation about an axis and translatory movement over the surface of a cloth-laying table, improved means for braking said shaft, comprising:

(a) a generally vertically disposed frame element secured in fixed relation to said carriage, and having an upper end, said upper end including bearing means for supporting one end of said shaft;

(b) a first brake shoe element mounted upon said frame element to contact one side of said supply roll shaft;

(0) a second brake shoe element of arcuate configuration corresponding to the diameter of said shaft, pivotally mounted with respect to said frame element for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and normally urged to a raised position, movement of said shaft into contact with said second brake shoe element serving to pivot said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element to Wedge said shaft therebetween; and

(d) manually operated lever means for positively urging said second brake shoe element toward said first brake shoe element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,664,026 3/1928 Farmer 242 75.4 X 3,127,125 3/1964 Jilbert 242 75.4 3,207,451 9/1965 Kane 242 75.4 X

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOTH-LAYING CARRIAGE SUPPORTING A CLOTH SUPPLY ROLL SHAFT FOR SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS AND TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT OVER THE SURFACE OF A CLOTH-LAYING TABLE, IMPROVED MEANS FOR BRAKING SAID SHAFT, COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED FRAME ELEMENT SECURED IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID CARRIAGE, AND HAVING AN UPPER END, SAID UPPER END INCLUDING BEARING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID SHAFT; (B) A FIRST BRAKE SHOE ELEMENT MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME ELEMENT TO CONTACT ONE SIDE OF SAID SUPPLY ROLL SHAFT; (C) A SECOND BRAKE SHOE ELEMENT OF ARCUATE CONFIGURATION CORRESPONDING TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID SHAFT, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME ELEMENT FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT AND NORMALLY URGED TO A RAISED POSITION, MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND BRAKE SHOE ELEMENT SERVING TO PIVOT SAID SECOND BRAKE SHOE ELEMENT TOARD SAID FIRST BRAKE SHOE ELEMENT TO WEDGE SAID SHAFT THEREBETWEEN. 